Well, good afternoon. Um it's October 20th and this is the meeting of the council on aging and we have to update a few things before we get started which is uh we follow the open meeting law which all of us here are very aware very
aware of and this meeting is recorded by law it has to be um and I think everybody is in attendance so we are all set with that um so the First thing I'd like to do is we have
August and September minutes that need to be approved and I sent them out. Would you also have them in front of you? >> So if there is no issue, can I have a motion for August?
>> I move that we accept both the August and as distributor I read as >> Okay. Second and a second. Okay. Marilyn made a motion and Mary seconded. All those in favor? I
>> Okay, now we are at announcements and I have a couple of announcements um tonight. One of them is that um coming up on on October 28th is a special town
meeting and one of the articles is uh the Sha Lane school and funding for Sha Lane school and I think everybody should attend the meeting and make the decision for themselves whether it's yes or no
what they want to do but there's been an awful lot in the paper that you know, online paper. There's been sheets handed out. There's things downstairs. So, I think everybody's had an opportunity to hear somewhere about
the school article. Also, if you have not heard anything, you can go to yes for littleton.org website and the whole all the information of the yes, what the yes vote does, what the no vote does. Um, so
you can make a decision for yourself. On November 1st, you also will have to go to uh vote >> at the middle se at middle school in Littleton because without both votes, nothing happens. You have to go both
places. Um, we are the Council on Aging is going to supply a van to bring people to town meeting. Um, I don't know about November 1st. Are they going to Are you going to have a van for November 1st,
Liz, or not? >> I do not have one scheduled, but we have requests for later, for example. >> Okay. Also available through the town clerk. There will be, I think, 25
um senior parking spaces right in the front of the meta school. So if you don't want to come because you're afraid you won't find parking, there will be 25 places there to park >> and that will be reserved for both >> for seniors or
>> town meeting and for voting on Saturday. >> I don't know about voting on Saturday. >> But that's for >> yeah to make sure that everybody that came from town meeting will be there. >> Yeah, there's a need. We don't need to we don't need to bring
that one up. Absentee ballots will be available at the town. >> I think they're available now >> for the for the voting. Yes, for the Saturday. >> For the Saturday one. Yes. But you do have to go to town meeting for uh the
vote, the first vote. >> So it's important that you do both. Um, and I also wanted to bring up the fact that my
craft class has been making blankets and we have decided that we want to donate them to Deb's beds and we have um a member of the Rotary and also Deb Austerman come tomorrow to my craft
class so that we can donate blankets. We will be giving them 12 blankets at the moment. >> And the other ones we are going to take to the Christmas bazaar because we're having a tread table and trying to make
money and sell there. And if we aren't successful enough to sell all the blankets, we will then give them to tread I mean to deaths as well. Um the crafters have really put a lot of effort into making them. Some of them had never
made one before. They all did a great job. And I I just think it's important that they think I'm okay. Keep going. >> Does anybody else have enough? There are two uh
two little food pantries that need some filling. one in front of Baptist church and one in front of the courtyard out here and they definitely need to be filled again. Things they get empty rapidly.
>> I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow there is another flu co clinic that is going on at the mid. >> Okay. What time is that? >> The afternoon. >> I have a 4:00 appointment. So if that helps any times going long
so it's probably 3 to six or 3 to 7 something like yes it's on the website sign up it's relatively easy was it >> yes relatively >> yes tomorrow
does anybody else have any announcements to Okay, going on. I don't see any friends here, so I don't think we have a friendship. I missed the meeting, but I think Amy was there and there wasn't a whole lot
that went on. Annie told me afterwards that not a lot had happened, but um they are going to do turkey bingo though, which is a big fundraiser. And so we can look forward to that. I think I think there's broad there's bulletins out already.
>> Yeah. >> On different doors and stuff around town. So um Okay, Liz, you're up. Right. I don't know why, but it keeps
focusing in on Amy and Rob over there. I don't want it. >> That's what I was playing with the camera for. >> There you are. >> The owl has decided you're the most photogenic in the room. >> All right, I'm gonna pull up my stats
since technology is not being my friend. Thank you for bearing. Here we go. Okay, another month for the record books here. >> Wow,
>> our highest yet again and again. I just need to um 2441 event signins in the month of September. um compared to last fiscal year
September 1,71. >> Look that unduplicated outreach and do interactions there. It's up to 900 in September. >> It's crazy. >> Um transportation, which we have noticed kind of stagnant for a while, has also
jumped up a little bit. excited to see where that is headed. But um did some quick math and I'm starting to work on the budget uh for next year and over the past three months, July, August, September, if we average it out, it's about
147% increase over last fiscal year for event assignments. And it's just about uh 1300 additional signings over last year with the new building. >> Wow. >> Yeah, >> that's incredible. That is. >> And you're doing it all underst staffed.
>> This is crazy. This is crazy. Oh my heavens. >> Well, they weren't understaffed until building. >> No, I know. >> Yeah. And I know, but now they're that is and I mean you said when they asked if you wanted money and you said not now
because I don't know what our need is going to be. Now we know what the need is. >> Yes. >> Yeah. I was planning for a 30 to 40% increase month over month >> and now we got 147. >> I
did not expect it to be so significant, but here we are. Um, and I'll jump down my list since we're talking about staffing. Um, I feel incredibly supportive in my request for additional staffing here. um
last year at the um the budget round table with FINOM and the SLET board put it out there that we will definitely have this need. >> We know it's coming. I don't know exactly what area our need is going to be in until we're in it.
>> Um and everyone's very supportive of um assisting me mid year if needed. So um after living in this building for was it five months? May June >> since May. Um is definitely the first
thing that's absolutely needed is a full-time office manager to help us with the logistics of everything that occurs here. Um and help with the additional revenue and accounts payable and everything that is just tripled in workload.
>> So put together a job description for a full-time office manager, submitted that to HR for review and for grading. that goes next to the personnel action meeting. I believe it's called >> I'm hoping that we're going to see it the next Wednesday. >> Yeah, >> I'm hoping.
>> So, it's in HR's hands. I have met with Steve Benoodi from Fincom and Karen Morrison from Select Board. Um, showed them all the numbers, told them the justification why I think I need what I need. Um the the question is am I
or are we adding a full-time position to what we have or are we taking a part-time position that we already have an admin assistant and turning it into a full-time position. >> I think the the move to make is to add
the full-time position and if you hang on >> your admin Yeah. Exactly. Hang on to the 19 Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Um, so there was quite a bit of discussion around that strategically what am I more likely to
be successful with getting through the comment and select board in a very tight tight budget season, but I feel that we have pretty strong ass here. Um, so that would be a mid-year appropriation that would carry into this next FY27 budget
that I'm creating. So it would be we're told to do level service not level funded. So this new position would be carried over into the FY27 as an existing position that wouldn't be considered to be asked. So that is all
great. So I'm just waiting to hear on the grading of this position um and then I make the formal request at a joint in complent. So that's where this is standing. Um, we're talking with all the different parties involved in making this happen. It looks like it's probably
going to be January. >> Before you get someone or before it's decided upon? >> Before there's a body in the door. >> Oh, okay. That's >> I don't want it to be January before they decided on it. >> No, I think I I feel confident that we have the
support here um with all the different parties of >> and that would keep the admin out for the 19 hours. >> Yes. >> As well. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. And down the road I can we can have the ability to change that into something else if needed. 19.5
cook 19.5 hour I don't know nutrition person. I don't want to lose that time. I want off books. >> No if you lose it doesn't come back. >> Yeah. So feeling pretty good about that.
Um, next on my list is um just to mention about Mark Connects. I don't I don't think I talked about this at our last uh meeting, but Mark Connects was a two to threeyear grant program put out by the Montusa Regional Transport Authority. It's in the newsletter, its
own box, and it did uh transportation through taxis that went till 10 p.m. and on the weekends. So, it was a great additional service. Uh the grant funding has run out. Now it's ending mid November.
>> Uh so between myself and the town planner, we've made a request to Massachusetts Regional Transport Authority to um get some of the data about who what what the ridership actually looked like, where were rides originating from that were there
destinations that occurred again and again and again? Um was it mainly Littleton residents or was it um a stop along the way? Mark did um indicate that many folks were using this service. So
Mark connects you could go 20 miles from Littleton. So if they originated in another town and got to Littleton, they could do a 20. So the grant was in multiple towns. So you could do 20 miles to Littleton and then 20 miles from Littleton. So it wasn't necessarily
little to the residents, but kind of a stuff on the way through. So they're pulling the data and we're going to see what we need to do about transportation and filling the gap. >> Uh we do have the ability to expand if we need we have additional vans. We have
drivers need might have some additional time and we always had room to add another driver if needed. Again, BART pays 100% of the driver salaries. So, that is not an additional cost that comes out of our budget. That's state
federal. So, that's smart connects. That was a great um grant program. While it lasted, I think people um for the evenings and the weekends a lot, but we'll see. Um, next on my list, I just wanted to
put it out there for anyone listening. The senior tax workoff program time sheets for your first round of hours are due by November 28th. That's there's two time sheets every year. The first one is due for November to hit two three taxes
and then we collect again at the end of February. I think fourth tax 2, November 28th. So I believe that is the Friday before the end. The 30th is on the weekend. So if you get it to me by Friday,
that would be fantastic. And that's all I have for um my report right now. I am going to the um Mass Massachusetts Council on Aging annual conference this week on Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday. Stan Feldman and Officer Elum and I are presenting a workshop on collaborations between foods departments and council on aging and best practices to making community safer.
>> We have about 40 people signed up for our workshop. >> Not very nervous at all. >> Officer will make it. >> Yeah. >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Take care. How do you spell his name? Um Amy, you I
that's all I have. I'm sure Amy has some co assistant director. >> Yeah. So, we actually did bring on another driver, Fernando. He had started today. It's his first day. He's shadowing with Neil right now. So, we're happy to have him. So, it'll be a backup
for Mondays um and can do some additional rides if we start filling up um with our transportation with no longer having Mark Connects as an option. Um we also are in open enrollment. It started last week and Alicia has been very busy. So, um she's
uh she's already booking into later in November for her appointments regarding Medicare. >> Correct. >> Um her presentation was a success. She had a lot of people come. she had her planner with her and was able to sign people up for appointments right then and there. So, that worked out really
well. Um, we are also in that fuel assistance time frame, so people can contact myself or Alicia to um apply for fuel assistance. Uh, this is through SMOK. Um, there is the the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which is also we've received the feedback that they're open
for applications as well. So, that's an option for people that don't necessarily fall within the small guidelines financially. So we can apply for that program as well. So anybody can contact myself or Alicia for those types of appointments. Uh the grant program is
almost concluded. Sadly, we did not get approved for additional funding. So that program once we spend all of the money this time around, um that would be the end of it for now. Uh we have two applications that I'll be bringing to the affordable housing trust this week
and then there's about $2,000 remaining for somebody with another project. Um, but it won't be for the full 7500 since the money's already been spent. And that's all I have finally. I move that we accept the outreach to
coordinate reports. Can I have a second? Second. >> All those. >> Okay. Board member updates. >> I have a little >> Don't everybody speak at one. >> I have a little from the minute there.
>> Okay. >> The shift to ECAP is going to be shifted into home care. Um it's a significant lesson. New individuals will go on the home care program but will not get the services that they're entitled to. If a lot of
grants are being reduced and substantial, they're not getting the total rent money from each one. Uh they may need to they may may need to analyze how best to support the most vulnerable vulnerable with the limited resources
that they have. Homedelivered meals are federally funded. They will have to scale back on the senior diner program. Um unfunded mandates result in financial losses to support the operation.
Why Massachusetts is an aging state and fewer people are eligible for mass health. The important programs are the most important. How do we keep them? The value of the program contract realignment to ensure adequacy. That's
pretty much the philosophy. What's the next meeting? Oh, it doesn't sound good. >> It doesn't sound good at all. It's a a very depressing city. Okay. Yes. Does anybody else
Okay. Affordable housing traffic. There you go. You knew. I knew that was gone. Um I just I'll be very brief. Um the two main projects, the Jerky Farmhouse and Tahadawan
continue to keep moving. Um we had a site walk at toadawan and there was a zoning board of appeals meeting um over the fact that the building is a duplex building. That was the issue. So,
it would have to go to zoning board of appeals. Um, and the affordable housing trust is also looking for other properties in town that could be used as possible development of affordable
housing. But that's, you know, out there, the big cloud and that's it for affordable housing trust. Okay. And then I have one more thing to add which is not any of those.
Um I for the last I don't know what it is now two years year and a half. It's longer than that been doing the emailing to people to line up helpers for events. Yes.
>> And I'm giving up that job. >> I'm giving that job up. >> Okay. I'll turn that. You'll take it on or I take it on. >> Yeah. >> All right. Whoever
their names in the hat for sisters. >> Yeah. I'm glad I'm so glad that we have people who stepped up. It's not a hard job. I mean, I've done that, too. But it's it's an important job. is to make sure you know all of you people are
where you're supposed to be at time. So, >> but I used to do it to line up 30 and 40 people. >> There you go. Yeah. >> Okay. So, between the two of you, you
decide. Yes. Who wants to do it >> and then just let us know. >> Perfect. Okay. We can do that. We can do that. >> Well, let's So, at our next meeting, we'll know. Okay, that's cool. >> So, if there's anything before then, so Sue has to do it now.
Gonna let her off. >> Well, I'm not here the whole month of November. So, >> so it really doesn't matter to her. Okay, sounds like bill work.
>> The only thing wrong had under that is uh the tread committee is going to have a tread table >> at the Christmas bazaar like we did last year. >> Yes. >> And we will be asking members of the
board to sign up for different times to work. >> Um I don't have that other shirts and >> shirts shirts. I don't have that schedule in place yet. >> Um we're hoping to do um raffles,
>> uh sew it feeders, blankets, and anything else that people want to give me for the table. >> And anybody out there who wants to make a donation to Tread would be more than welcome to accept now or that day. Um I've already booked
the tables, so we're all set with that. So, it's just a matter of you putting all the other stuff together. Sure. And Tread is funded only by donations. >> Only by donations. Yeah. >> So, and it's the first Saturday in December.
Always. >> Always. The first Saturday of December. So, more will come next month. I'll have all the schedules that I need for next month. I'm back. And we're giving you the biggest job we need to back.
>> Yeah. >> I know. >> Was enjoyable last year. >> Yes, it was fun. >> It was fun. Yeah. We had a good time. >> And we made money. >> Yeah. We made almost $600 last year. >> So, you know,
>> every little bit helps. >> Yes. Yeah. >> So, um my husband is donating the bird sewer feeders. He made a bunch of them. So, >> does he have any more of those cute little cars? >> No, those were those were his, but no, we don't have any more of those.
>> Okay. Children like >> Yeah, they did. Um, well, we have a dinner at 4:00 downstairs whose spaghetti dinner and a couple board members are going to serve. So, I don't have anything else on this agenda.
>> Did I mention something? You can mention Oh, I forgot politician. >> Keep you updated with the charter committee which is studying. >> Oh, yes. All local government been doing it since the end of March. We've brought in every single elected board to get
their viewpoints on and many different aspects of the government. Should boards be appointed? Should they all be elected? Should they stay that way? Um what authority do we give the town administrator? Do we change that name to a town manager? We had our first open
forum just last last week was pretty well attended but it's going on it's time consuming it's twice a month the meetings are and twice a month and I have zoom meetings with Boston. Um but it's it's going to be
interesting when it comes back and what it might reflect the changes for to different committees. This committee is not going to have any changes that I can see coming out because it's already you what to direct you. That's what we're looking to do to we're looking to make
everything consistent so everyone functions the same way. If you're elected to board it, you're going to be report to the same person that type of link. Right now been in town all this time that one committee does this, one committee does that. This committee appoints this committee does that. and
some report to the town administrators, some report only to the committee. So don't try to get that make that consistent. So I project and we're trying to have it ready for next town meeting. I doubt that's going to happen. I think it's next fall by the time. But if if that gets approved, it goes to the
ruling and advisory board, it goes to the select board, they can make their changes, then it goes to town meeting and if it goes to town meeting and passes and even a town meeting aspects can be changed and taken up. But then then it goes to state legislature. But you make a town charter that is that
your town government runs. You still have bylaws or whatever, but it's pretty effective. Like some people have made the comment, well the state law says we function this way and this town can actually change how something
happened. So I listened to the meeting on the TV afterwards because I was not able to be there and it was a good reporting. I thought it was a lot of good information so far. So when it gets ready to go to fall town meeting
or just >> I think it's right now I think it's just town meeting then state legislation. So there's no time ballot approved. >> It's a two thing edge thing >> right now. I believe it's just
>> just tell me. >> Thank you. That's good. Good news. >> And we did have to the tow man from broad. His information is outstanding. Is he does he have a charter? >> Oh yeah, he does. He goes by his chart. That's why he was there. Okay. He was
He's really into it. Great. >> There are a lot of towns around here that are chartered. >> I know. Yeah. Over having does not move up just like we have by laws.
>> Yeah. >> When is the next meeting for >> 27th? from 7:1 day before May. >> Yes, it is. That's why we said we can get that done with them and concentrate
down. >> Will it be as smart as >> that is? That is possible. Thank you. Um, yeah, public input. Rob, do you have
anything you'd like to say? Yeah, briefly. Rob Browns, um I appreciate everything you said about town meeting. Um I just want to um I think there's going to be a pretty big exodus out of town meeting after the Shaker Lane vote takes place. >> It always is.
>> But but I want to remind everybody here that I think you already know there's an important article pertaining to senior tax deferral program being updated. So please stick around for that. please come to the microphone should you be moved to to support that article. I
suspect that that's going to pass rather easily, but I still think every opportunity we have to impress upon those that aren't familiar with the item that it's a worthwhile opportunity to to plug the program etc. Um plugging the
program very briefly about Shaker Lane. I've probably spent six months um really digging in extremely deeply being extremely involved with the data that you reference that's available in various locations. Uh I was prompted to
do that quite frankly because of a number of seniors that I heard and other voices that I heard speak at previous town meetings talking about the high taxes and the burden that places on seniors. My conclusion and what I'm speaking,
I've probably been to easily more than a hundred houses going door todo in the last month, maybe approaching 200. Is that the Shaker Lane approach here? Here, I'll do it with you. Anybody remember where they were when JFK was
assassinated? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Shaker Lane was built and and being used before JFK was assassinated. and think about the how the world and how ed educational change the from a cost standpoint that I think
is very very critical to seniors. I'm beyond convinced that the professionals have it correct. The building is going to fail in the next seven to 10 years. Should we not pass this, we're going to spend if we spend $2.7 million in
repairs, we're going to be forced to spend $50 million to repair the old building. then we're still going to spend another 50 million plus on a new building. So from a senior standpoint, spend it once, not because we want to,
but because we have to. Um, so that's that's that's my plug. I'd be happy to speak with anybody and everybody should there be any questions to try to understand and make a mistake. I've I've met with and discussed
good handful of people who are very opposed to it out of the basis of the tax burden that's too high and it's efforts like the senior tax deferral, the senior tax work program that I try to emphasize. So appreciate the time and opportunity to speak. I I encourage if
any of you are moved to speak, I think your respective members in the community and therefore your leadership will be noted should you care to speak during the debate. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> And is there anyone else who has anything they'd like to say?
>> I just want to add said that committee's done a tremendous job with so many meetings and no matter what's no matter what you do, people Yeah. >> don't go to meet and don't get the information. I had a contractor come to my house station to bring that up and the point he made to me was he goes now
the the water department the suda department's going to have to have a sew line go all the way from the crown and all the way shape the lane which is completely false. So this is the type of thing that just throws people off and >> it's not a necessary thing. Hats off to all the work you're doing because
>> they've done a tremendous job to slow people out there that >> Yeah. >> was one of the things that my husband said when he was asked by three sers what he was going to do. He said, "You know, when my kids were in school, there
were seniors who were there that paid the taxes that helped my kids go school and get the benefits." He said, "And now I'm a senior, but it's my turn." >> And that's how he looked at it, that it's his turn to pay back. Um, I wasn't
sure how I was going to go, but that changed my mind. And I realized that's true. Imagine that. How many how many seniors helped by our kids fit their school? And now it's someone else's turn. >> So if there's no other business, I would
entertain um an a motion to adjourn. >> I don't mean >> I wonder why you said that. >> Can I have a second before Marilyn leaves? >> Second. >> All those in favor? Hi.
No.